NBA Betting Preview & Expert Pick: Oklahoma City vs. Golden State

NBA Betting Preview & Expert Pick: Oklahoma City vs. Golden State

Written by on February 23, 2018

Look, there’s no sense in beating around the bush. After their last, quite an inflammatory meeting, the Golden State Warriors will be looking for flat-out revenge when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday afternoon. If you’re looking for some NBA betting action during the weekend in our online sportsbook it’s all set. Let’s find out right now if Steph and KD can get the payback they’re looking for against Russell Westbrook and Paul George.

NBA Betting Preview & Expert Pick: Oklahoma City vs. Golden State

  • When: Saturday, February 24, 2018, 5:30 PM ET
  • Where: ORACLE Arena, Oakland, CA
  • TV: ABC
  • Radio: 930 AM (Oklahoma City) / 95.3 FM (Golden State)
  • Live Stream: NBA League Pass
  • NBA Betting Odds: TBA

Team Records

  • All: Oklahoma City Thunder 34-26 / Golden State Warriors 45-14
  • Home: Oklahoma City Thunder 20-10 / Golden State Warriors 23-7
  • Away: Oklahoma City Thunder 14-16 / Golden State Warriors 22-7
  • ATS: Oklahoma City Thunder 25-35 / Golden State Warriors 26-32-1
  • Over/Under: Oklahoma City Thunder 28-32 / Golden State Warriors 31-27-1

Spurs at Nuggets NBA Lines & Expert Prediction – February 23rd

Recent Head to Head (Last 10 Games)

  • Record: Golden State Warriors lead 7-3
  • Score: Oklahoma City Thunder 105.60 / Golden State Warriors 109.80
  • Field Goal Percentage: Oklahoma City Thunder 46.96 / Golden State Warriors 43.26
  • Rebounds: Oklahoma City Thunder 43.80 / Golden State Warriors 44.70
  • 3 Point Shots: Oklahoma City Thunder 126-309 / Golden State Warriors 80-262
  • Steals: Oklahoma City Thunder 9.50 / Golden State Warriors 10.10

Why Consider Betting on Oklahoma City?

Why should you consider backing the Thunder in this contest? Well, because they beat the hell out of Golden State the last time they met and have legitimate all-stars that are both playing at a high level right now. Oklahoma City has won two straight and three of four and is coming into this contest off a thrilling 110-107 win over Sacramento on Thursday night, but in reality, they needed a last-second 3-point buzzer beater from Russell Westbrook to beat the lowly Kings. “Got to find a way to get space with one second left,” Westbrook said. “They thought I was going for a lob. I just read the defender and tried to pop back and get some space.” The Thunder blew a 23-point lead and trailed 105-102 with 4 1/2 minutes remaining before closing the game on an 8-2 run. Paul George scored a team-high 26 points and Carmelo Anthony added 23 points while Westbrook scored 17 in the win while recording his 18t triple-double of the season by adding 15 rebounds and 11 assists.

Team Statistics

Offense
  • Total Score: 106.65
  • Field Goal Percentage: 45.36
  • Three-Point Percentage: 35.19
  • Free Throw Percentage: 70.57
  • Total Rebounds: 44.83
Defense
  • Total Score: 103.25
  • Field Goal Percentage: 45.79
  • Three-Point Percentage: 36.22
  • Free Throw Percentage: 75.88
  • Total Rebounds: 41.47

Why Consider Betting on Golden State?

Why should you consider backing the Warriors in this matchup? Because they’ve got more all-star players, are playing at home and are highly motivated right about now! The Warriors have won three of four, including a solid 134-127 win over a feisty Los Angeles Clippers squad on Thursday night that saw Steph Curry go off for a game-high 44 points. The Warriors say they want to get on a nice roll before the start of the playoffs. Head coach Steve Kerr has changed starting centers, opting to go with athletic big man JaVale McGee of former starter Zaza Pachulia. “We’re a championship team. We’re not about to sit here and act like we’re this battered team that had a horrible season and we’re looking for any glimmer of hope,” all-star forward Draymond Green said. “I understand we haven’t been as great as most people expect. We’re still a damn good basketball team so we don’t need no `but it’s a step in the right direction.’ You may get that out of someone but I don’t really roll like that.” The Warriors should come on top of the NBA Betting Odds against OKC. Kevin Durant added 21 points in the win and Klay Thompson chipped in 19 in the win. “It takes a full effort. It’s not easy to win an NBA game, it’s really not,” Kerr said. “It takes the full 48. We’re not there yet.”

Team Statistics

Offense
  • Total Score: 116.20
  • Field Goal Percentage: 51.22
  • Three-Point Percentage: 39.59
  • Free Throw Percentage: 80.96
  • Total Rebounds: 44.05
Defense
  • Total Score: 108.07
  • Field Goal Percentage: 44.28
  • Three-Point Percentage: 35.68
  • Free Throw Percentage: 76.11
  • Total Rebounds: 41.90

Latest NBA Betting Trends

  • Warriors are 16-6 SU in their last 22 games
  • Warriors are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games at home
  • The total has gone OVER in 7 of Golden State’s last 10 games at home
  • Thunder are 3-6 ATS in their last 9 games
  • Thunder are is 3-6 SU in their last 9 games

Expert Analysis and Prediction

I’m looking forward to this Saturday night, nationally-televised affair, seeing as how Oklahoma City pounded the hell out of Golden State in their stunning 125-105 road win over the Dubs on Feb. 7 in a game that saw the Warriors lose their composure to the tune of five technical fouls while Russell Westbrook went off for 34, 9 and 9 and Paul George scored a game-high 38 points. Now, because of that loss, combined with the fact that Golden State will definitely want to start playing at a higher level, I like the Dubs to get some revenge in this matchup. While the Thunder have a pair of legitimate superstars in Westbrook and George and a fading one in Carmelo Anthony, the Thunder are also still wildly inconsistent and that, combined with Golden State’s renewed focus, is why the Dubs will win this contest. The home team in this series is 15-5-1 ATS in the last 21 meetings while the favorite is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings. Last but not least, the Thunder are just 2-7 ATS in the last 9 meetings against the Warriors and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road dates against the Dubs. Score: Oklahoma City Thunder 111 – Golden State Warriors 121